Method of agglomerating fine ores.



F. E. BAGHMAN.

PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

MBTHD 0F AGGLOMERATING PINE DRES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31| 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENTLOFFIOE.

FRANK E. BAOHMAN, OR PORTHENRY, NEW YORK, AssiGNOR To NORTHERN IRON COMPANY, OF PORT HENRY, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AGGLOMERATING FINE CRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

Application filed January 3], 1906. Serial No. 298,756.

`To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK E. BACHMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing` at Port Henry, in the county of Essex and State of New York, have invented a Method of Agglomerating Fine Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to agglomerating fine iron ores, as also flue-dust or the like, so as to fit them for use in the blast-furnace, and it contemplates mixing such materials with` a sullicient quantity of coke braigeL waste charcoal, or other inexpensive carbonaceous matte'. to provide heat and ash for effecting the agglomeration in a rotary kiln with the use of a flame of low calorific power.

' The leading ob'ects of the invention are to l reduce the cost o operation and to avoid the use of high temperatures, such as have commonly been emp oyed, whichfuse the ores and cause them to adhere to and injure the kilnlining. 1

The objects are attained by the mode of op eration described through the fact that the ash produced from the fuel mixed with the iron-bearing materials bin s s materials @aber 'at 'mammina-am quired to cause them to clinker by fusing them. -The solid carbonaceous matter used for producing the ash and roviding heat may be a waste product, and t e flame used for carrying on the combustion may be of economical character, suoli as produced by blastfurnace gas alone or mixed with a small amount of oil or pulverized coal.

The mode of operation may be practiced by the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing, which represents a side elevation of a rotary kiln having means for introducing the ore mixed with solid carbonaceous matter at one end and a flame at the other.

Referring to the drawing, in carrying on the operations, the mixture of fine iron-bearing materials and carbonaceous matter is charged through the ho per A, whence it is fed continuously througlii the kiln B, which rotates on the bearings O D and is inclined downwardly, so as to cause the materials to travel at a gradual rate therethrough.

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the materials are agitated and carried through I the waste gases are carried off through the stack F.

The flame introduced by means of the burner i nites the carbonaceous matter mixed wit the ore, and the combustion raises the temperature of the Ore to a point, preferably below fusion, at which the ash produced from the carbonaceous matter will fuse, ad.

here, and effect the agglomeration of the ore.

The coke-braize or other solid 1 carbonaceous matter supplies part of the heat necessary, and the flame roduces the additional heat required for fusing the ash and binding v the iron-bearing materials to form nodules.

Itis to be understood that iron ores fuse at y about 2,300o Fahrenheit, while blast-furnace gas is capable of reducing a temperature of chea and suitable means for carryingonthe' com ustion of fuel mixed with the ore and providing the temperature desired. l

The heat lproduced by the blast-furnace gas preferab y or produceras may also be SUPP owdered coal or oil in such quantity as may e required to produce the desired temperature for carrying on the operations, by which there is obtained a more economical flame about 2,200 Fa renheit, providingv both@A emented by mixing wit such gas either 4 and one of lower temperature than results l from the combustion of either oil or powdered coal alone.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The method of agglomerating fine ores, flue-dust or the like which consists in mixing the same with suiicient carbonaceous material to supply the ash necessary for eccting the agglomeration, passing the same through a rotary kiln subject to the action of a flame-vl and heating to a temperature below that required for fusing the ores.

2. The method of agglomerating ine ore, which consists in mixing the same with sufficient carbonaceous material to provide heat and the necessary ash to effect agglomeration, feedi said mixture through a rotary kiln and su jecting the same to a flame of such power as to eiect the combustion of the carbonaceous material p5nd the fusion of its ash and agglomeration'without fusing the ore.

3. The method of agglomerating fine iron oresI flue-dust or the like which consists in mixing the same with suflicient coke-braize to supply heat and ash suflicient for bending and passing the same through a rotary kiln subject to the action of a flame produced from blast-furnace gas.

4. The method of agglomerating fine ores, flue-dust and thelike which consists in feeding the same through a rotary kiln, subjecting it to a temperature below that which will effect fusion f the ore, and eecting agglomeration by foreign matter mixed with the ore 5. The method of 'agglomerating fine ores, flue-dust and the like which consists in feeding the same through a rotary kiln, subjecting it to a tem erature below that which will effect fusion o the ore, and effecting agglomeration by combustible matter mixed with the ore whose ash fuses and adheres at said temperature.

6. The method of agglomerating fine ores, flue-dust and the like which consists in feeding the same through a rotary kiln, subjecting it to the action of a flame employing blastfurnace gas, and effecting agglomeration by foreign matter which fuses and adheres under the action of said flame.

7. The method of agglomerating fine ores, flue-dust and the like which consists in feeding the same through a rotary kiln, subjecting it to the-action of a flame roduced by blast-furnace gas and a fuel of di erent power and effecting agglomeration by foreign matter which fuses and adheres under the action of said flame. l

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 23d day of January, A. D. 1906, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. BACHMAN.

Witnesses:

FRED W. DUDLEY, CHARLES JOHNSON.

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